Lavender – the word alone conjures up vibrant images of Provence, France, and delights the senses. Lavender has a multitude of uses – as an herb for culinary purposes, as an ingredient in bath and beauty products, as a stress reliever, or as a soothing scent in your closet or lingerie drawer. I have always loved the smell of lavender (and the color itself), and, of course, I’ve dreamed about traveling to the south of France where the climate and the clear skies inspired artists like Monet and Van Gogh.
Much to my delight, I discovered all the elements of Provence right here in New Mexico. A dry climate, crisp blue skies, stunning vistas that brought renowned artists like Georgia O’Keeffe to live in Abiquiu, and, to top it off, lavender fields!
Located in the Chama River Valley, the Purple Adobe is an organic lavender farm owned by Elizabeth and Roger Inman. They grow between 10 to 15 varieties of lavender each year and sell not only the lavender plants but a wide range of products that include bath salts, hydrating lotions, fragrant sachets and candles.
Harvest season at the Purple Adobe Lavender Farm starts in July and runs through August. This year, Elizabeth and Roger Inman decided to open up their beautiful property to visitors and have scheduled tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays of each week (for the month of July) starting at 9:30AM. I had the opportunity to visit their farm last week and was impressed not only by Elizabeth and Roger but by the natural settings and the lavender plants. I walked through the fields with Elizabeth, learned about the different varieties of lavender that they grow, sipped peppermint and lavender ice tea, and indulged myself by buying a lavender product. I could have stayed there all day!
While you can most certainly visit Purple Adobe Lavender Farm on your own, do consider calling Santa Fe Walkabouts and taking a tour with us. We’ll take you to the Farm, then for a short hike in the landscapes that O’Keeffe loved, followed by lunch at The Abiquiu Inn. A delightful 6 hour excursion that gets you beyond Santa Fe – through lavender fields and under New Mexico’s brilliant skies. What more could you ask for? Get inspired, get a taste of Provence right here in New Mexico … Let’s Go Walkabout!
